World Bank team to take stock of MUTP-II & III in the first week of August

Mumbai: The World Bank (WB) will visit Mumbai railway offices to take stock of the Mumbai Urban Transport Project II and III in the first week of August.

This visit is being regarded as important since the WB has rapped city railway officials on the knuckles on at least two previous occasions for not doing enough to curb the number of deaths caused by railway accidents, especially people falling off the trains, and while crossing the tracks.

The WB has also asked the railways to do more to improve women safety on the trains.

The railways has taken a loan of 309 US million dollars for MUTP II cost of Rs 4,713 crore which includes works like trespass control and the remaining 24 out of the 72 new rakes that are to be delivered until December of this year. MUTP III on the other hand has finally been priced at Rs 11,000 crore project cost, and has been agreed upon to be repaid at a seven per cent interest until 2038.

“The WB will basically be shown the completed work under MUTP II like the conversion of Harbour from direct current to alternate current and increasing it’s capacity from nine to 12-coach,” said an official.

The WB has also asked the city railway officials to bring forward more solutions to curb the deaths and will be presented the Western Railway’s (WR) proposal to fix automatic closed-door in 22 coaches. The officials will also be briefed about the current status of the trespass control, a major problem.